- Joined
- Jan 7, 2003
- Messages
- 2,373
NOTE: These PSK threads are intended to focus in on one topic at at time rather than provide generalized PSK discussion.
The Bladeforums wilderness board is full of discussion that hits this topic in general terms. There are plenty of lists here for anyone who wants to search. There is also plenty of discussion on general pack contents and EDC items. I’d like to (attempt) to limit the discussion to actual items in a pocket sized PSK. The intention is to discuss only one topic is discussed per thread, with separate threads covering the basics of: FIRE, WATER, SHELTER, NAVIGATION, LIGHT, SIGNALS, FOOD GATHERING, MINOR MEDS, SHARPS, and MISC. (Please don’t take these as an order of importance)
Try to keep comments focused on the incidents and accidents that drove your choices. As Solomon stated in Proverbs, “There is much wisdom in the multitude of counselors.” As each thread winds down or runs off topic I’ll start another in the series. Mac
SIGNALS – I have personally never had to signal for help in an emergency situation. I’m no do-it-yourselfer when it comes to survival. I give signals a high priority. My PSK signals group consists of: Inova red LED, ACR whistle, Starflash mirror, and reflector tape applied to various items. I can also use fire/smoke and my space blanket to attract attention.
I have the signals group set up so that my mirror, LED, and whistle can be hung around the neck on a braided section of #4 waxed line. At the end of this necklace I have my medallion type compass attached which has reflector tape applied to the back. It’s not as cumbersome as it sounds, as all these items lay flat. Reflector stickers take up no room at all and greatly improve your chances of getting spotted in a searchlight. I also have one applied to the back of the Altoids tin.
The value of signal devices was impressed upon me by an ordeal my dad went through while hunting deer in Wisconsin.
He was moving to get a better shot at a deer he could see through the brush. In his haste he slipped, pinned his ankle and wound up with a badly broken leg. The knob of bone at the top of his shin snapped off allowing his lower leg to flop around in all directions. This was 1973 and the cell phone was yet to be. His first attempt to signal for help was three shots from his Rem 760 .30-06 carbine. On opening day of deer in Wisconsin this didn’t attract any attention at all. Three more shots netted the same result. After shouting himself hoarse it finally dawned on him that he was on his own.
He first tried to make a crutch. This idea lasted until he actually tried to use it. Recovering from that he unlaced his boot and placed the barrel of his (unloaded) rifle into the boot and laced the boot back up tight. He then used the rifle strap and his deer drag rope to tie the rifle securely to his thigh and knee. Using his hands and good leg he was then able to drag himself backwards and make progress. He told me that every log and puddle on the ground took on new meaning as he chose his route. Finally he was spotted by another hunter who first tried to carry him (too painful) and ended up helping by clearing a path and helping to drag him. His ordeal lasted from early morning to late afternoon.
How could have a PSK helped? Some idiot blowing an ACR or Fox 40 like a maniac would probably attract a mob complete with rope tied into a noose in the Wisconsin woods on opening day of deer. Blowing out SOS (…---…
or repeating three whistle blasts could have brought help. My PSK includes an ACR whistle because it is flat and takes up little space. I can also whistle very loud with my fingers but in a true survival situation they may not function, jaws and teeth break as well.
Three times I have done controlled experiments with mirrors. The first time I was able to signal 20 miles from the top of a mountain to my father-in-law at his house. The second time I was able to signal a friend at his apartment on the far side of greater Belo Horizonte (pop +/- 4 million). On a sunny day if you observe the city you will see dozens of mirror flashes as cars turn in the sunlight. In fact as I write this I have an excellent view of the city and I can see some kind of mirror brightly reflecting at me from about five miles away. I teach the use of mirrors and any other reflector to attract attention. I once had a group of hikers signal our base camp when they got to the top of a ridge with whatever they had on hand. Most of them were using watch crystals and they were very visible.
This past fall I did an experiment with my Inova LED. It was deer season in PA and I was wearing my blaze orange jumpsuit. My buddy was in his tree stand about half a mile away on the opposite ridge. As I crested the ridge overlooking the other side of the valley he called me on the radio to confirm that it was me. He could see the orange jumpsuit and knew I was headed his way on that ridge. It was an overcast day and we could see each other dimly through the treetops. I flashed him with the LED and he said it was like a laser.
The Bladeforums wilderness board is full of discussion that hits this topic in general terms. There are plenty of lists here for anyone who wants to search. There is also plenty of discussion on general pack contents and EDC items. I’d like to (attempt) to limit the discussion to actual items in a pocket sized PSK. The intention is to discuss only one topic is discussed per thread, with separate threads covering the basics of: FIRE, WATER, SHELTER, NAVIGATION, LIGHT, SIGNALS, FOOD GATHERING, MINOR MEDS, SHARPS, and MISC. (Please don’t take these as an order of importance)
Try to keep comments focused on the incidents and accidents that drove your choices. As Solomon stated in Proverbs, “There is much wisdom in the multitude of counselors.” As each thread winds down or runs off topic I’ll start another in the series. Mac
SIGNALS – I have personally never had to signal for help in an emergency situation. I’m no do-it-yourselfer when it comes to survival. I give signals a high priority. My PSK signals group consists of: Inova red LED, ACR whistle, Starflash mirror, and reflector tape applied to various items. I can also use fire/smoke and my space blanket to attract attention.
I have the signals group set up so that my mirror, LED, and whistle can be hung around the neck on a braided section of #4 waxed line. At the end of this necklace I have my medallion type compass attached which has reflector tape applied to the back. It’s not as cumbersome as it sounds, as all these items lay flat. Reflector stickers take up no room at all and greatly improve your chances of getting spotted in a searchlight. I also have one applied to the back of the Altoids tin.
The value of signal devices was impressed upon me by an ordeal my dad went through while hunting deer in Wisconsin.
He was moving to get a better shot at a deer he could see through the brush. In his haste he slipped, pinned his ankle and wound up with a badly broken leg. The knob of bone at the top of his shin snapped off allowing his lower leg to flop around in all directions. This was 1973 and the cell phone was yet to be. His first attempt to signal for help was three shots from his Rem 760 .30-06 carbine. On opening day of deer in Wisconsin this didn’t attract any attention at all. Three more shots netted the same result. After shouting himself hoarse it finally dawned on him that he was on his own.
He first tried to make a crutch. This idea lasted until he actually tried to use it. Recovering from that he unlaced his boot and placed the barrel of his (unloaded) rifle into the boot and laced the boot back up tight. He then used the rifle strap and his deer drag rope to tie the rifle securely to his thigh and knee. Using his hands and good leg he was then able to drag himself backwards and make progress. He told me that every log and puddle on the ground took on new meaning as he chose his route. Finally he was spotted by another hunter who first tried to carry him (too painful) and ended up helping by clearing a path and helping to drag him. His ordeal lasted from early morning to late afternoon.
How could have a PSK helped? Some idiot blowing an ACR or Fox 40 like a maniac would probably attract a mob complete with rope tied into a noose in the Wisconsin woods on opening day of deer. Blowing out SOS (…---…
or repeating three whistle blasts could have brought help. My PSK includes an ACR whistle because it is flat and takes up little space. I can also whistle very loud with my fingers but in a true survival situation they may not function, jaws and teeth break as well.Three times I have done controlled experiments with mirrors. The first time I was able to signal 20 miles from the top of a mountain to my father-in-law at his house. The second time I was able to signal a friend at his apartment on the far side of greater Belo Horizonte (pop +/- 4 million). On a sunny day if you observe the city you will see dozens of mirror flashes as cars turn in the sunlight. In fact as I write this I have an excellent view of the city and I can see some kind of mirror brightly reflecting at me from about five miles away. I teach the use of mirrors and any other reflector to attract attention. I once had a group of hikers signal our base camp when they got to the top of a ridge with whatever they had on hand. Most of them were using watch crystals and they were very visible.
This past fall I did an experiment with my Inova LED. It was deer season in PA and I was wearing my blaze orange jumpsuit. My buddy was in his tree stand about half a mile away on the opposite ridge. As I crested the ridge overlooking the other side of the valley he called me on the radio to confirm that it was me. He could see the orange jumpsuit and knew I was headed his way on that ridge. It was an overcast day and we could see each other dimly through the treetops. I flashed him with the LED and he said it was like a laser.
